Testing machine



AJuly 3, 1928.

'.F. A. HAMILTON TESTING MACHINE Filed Jan. 5, 1926 5 Sheets-Sheet i se, @M4/y; m.

July 3, 192s.

\ `41,615,802. F. A. HAMILTON TESTING MACHINE l 3 Sheets-Shet 2.l

Filed Jan. 5, 1926 l gwumtcw 1928.. July 3 F. VA. HAMILTON TESTING MACHINE Filed Jan. 5, 1926 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 ir; 69 55 5.6 l. 67 '1 l A p58 N i I 65 ...57

| 65 Y 56' mnluunw 55 l l 1 7/ 69 63/ x 58 if "v r' f f' a@ Patented July 3, 1928.

FERDINAND A. HAMILTON, oF'Los ANGELns, GALIFORLNIA, AssIGNoR, 'BY DIRECT MasNE ASSIGNMENTS, To `son'rHnnN` eALnoaN F CALIFORNIA..`

iA GASL'COMCPANY, A COBPORATIQN TESTING ,-MAGHI'NE.

'y Application med iannarys, 132e. serial No. 29,432.

invention relates generally Ytotesting machines and more parteu1arly,`lalthoughi not necessarily, to amachine OI' testingp'pe" fittings and the like in such manner that flaws inthe walls of theffitting such as, forh instance, minute blow holes andicraeks which` would otherwise render the litting unsuitable,-` for use in pipe lines uuderypressure, can be qiiicklylocated. i

A purpose of my invention-is `the provi# y sion of a machine of the abovefdescribetjl character which essentially Consists offitting supporting and `sealing means anda liquid supply means, one of which, preferably the` 5 liquidsupply means, is movableto submerge j and emerge the fitting.

Another purpose of my `invention is thev provision of means for supplyingair under pressure to tlieinterior of the sealed,fitting, in timed relation with. the submergence of the fitting in and itsl emergence ifrom thel liquid, thusinsuringthe economical use of` the air and reducing the manual oper-ations to a minimum. c 'y r A `further purpose of my invention is rthe provision of atestingmachinein which the. tting supporting and sealing device canbe quickly adjusted to support ttings of vari-- ous sizes and shapes with equal facility and dispatch and which Voperates to;(-ilectively` clamp and hernietically seal Ithe open ends" ot the iittingsiu a single operation.

I will describe only one `foi-m` of testing machine embodyinpf my invention, `and will then point out the novel `ieatures thereof-in claims. y

ln the accompanying drawings, o Figure 1 is a view showinglpartly in side; elevation and partly in vertical seetion `one form of testing machine` embodying Inyinvention; y i y op AFigure 2 is a plan View of the machine embodied inFigure l and illustrating a shaped litting in position to be tested;` Figure 3is a vertical sectionalview taken 7 on the line offFigure l; i?

Figure 4 V.is ahorizontal sectional ,viewf taken on thejlines 4-4 of Figurefl; Figures 5 and 6 are plan views of the itting supporting and ,sealing device illustrat-` ing, respectively,` a `T-shaped" fitting and an L-shaped'litting in position for testing;

Figure 7 is Aa view showing in side eleva.- tionthe fitting supporting and sealing device; fand Figure is al perspective view of one of the elements .comprised in theiffitting.sup-` portingfand sealing device. y Referringspecifieally to'thedravvi in which .similarlreferenee haracters re er .toi-

similar partsv in eachof theseveral views, my invention, `in its presentenibodiment, com` prises a ittiugsupporting and sealing device designated generally at S, vin of various shapes, such as, `:for instance, crosses, T,s -andLs, areadapted to be su ported and `clamped with their Aopens-.ends hermeti'cally sealed. iForthis purpose, sealing elements designated,generally` at"`E and a renaming? element R are provided. shown in igureQQ, whentesting a crossshaped `fitting sealing lements only are used, whereas when testing: Ts and. Us, was, shown, respectively, in Figures V5 and y 6, the` iam'llt'` is utllizedin conjunction with. the sealing elements. y

rEac'h `of thesealing elements E, preferably, l. isi constructedin the formv of` a `disk 11() `recessed uponone "face,.as clearly shoWni-n Figure `1,\- to snuglvlreceive a sealing gasket.

11 of rubber or `other Ysuitable materiahaiid the 'disk merges at its `otheiface `into an cxternally threadedshnk 12. The .ram R `is preferably formed toiprovide a tapered pin 13 having a Shankf14 threadedisi'milarly to,

the: Shanks of the sealing elements. l g. The iitting supporting-` and sealing device S inthe present instance comprises a'fhead 15 which fittings in the :form of `an annulus offrectangular cross section havingr aplurality disposedrecesses 16` and threaded .openings 17.` fln therecessesl, substantially rectangular` shaped blocks "18 having slots 19 extending transversely -thereof are slidably mounted and arev adapted -tofbe moved inwardly and outwardly of `the head by means of cams in theform of eceentrics"`20 fined integral with `stub .shafts 2l irotatably mounted inthehead with the eccenticspositioned-.Witliin the slotsl9. At one end of eachof theshafts 21 is a shank`22 of` angular form whichi projects "freely through openings provided in an arcuate sli aped cover. plate 23 secured to the'liead 15 in spanning relation of radially f to the recesses 16 by means of bolts 24, thus preventing displacement of the blocks 18 and shafts 21 from the head.

Any one of the stub shafts 21 is adapted to be manually actuated by means of a hand lever 25 having an angularly shaped opening to receive any of the shanks 22, and it will be noted thatv when testing an L-shaped fitting the lever-25 only is used, whereas in the testing of crosses and Ts an arm 26 having an angularly shaped opening receiving one of the shanks 22 is operatively connecte to the lever 25 by means of a connecting rod 27 pivoted at one end to the lever at 28 and projecting freely throughV an opening formed in a post 29 having a reduced threaded shank 30 extending freely through an opening formed inthe arm 26 and provided with' a nut 31. To provide a resilient' connectionbetwecn the lever and arm a coiled expansible spring 32 surrounds the projecting end of the rod 27 and at one end enga es 'a washer 33 abutting a nut 34.

s shown in Figures 1 and 2, the blocks 18 are further provided at their inner Vends with threaded bores 35 and in the bores and threaded openings 17 in the head the Shanks of either the sealing elements E or ram R are adapted to be received and locked against movement by means of lock nuts 36. By this arrangement, the sealing elements and ram are rendered interchangeable and adjustable inwardly and outwardly of the head and blocks 18 so that fittings of various shapes and sizes can be accommodated.

The head 15 is supportedhorizontally and in elevated 'position at a height convenient to an operator by means of a pair of upstanding rods 37 threaded at their lower ends as indicated at 38 into the head', with their upper ends projecting through sleeves 39 formed on the ends of the diverging arms 40 ofa bracket 41 and connected by means of a stifl'ening web 42 to the upper end of a tubular standard 43 fixed upon a base plate 44, The rods 37 are adjustable vertically in the sleeves 39 and set-screws 45 are provided to secure them in adjusted position. To :further `support the weight of the head 15 in the sleeves, collars 46 engage the upper 'end of the sleeves and are secured to the rods 37 by means of set screws 47. Y

VAn open topped receptacle designated generally at T of a diameter sufiicient to freelyV receive the head 15 and of such depth that a suicient quantity of liquid such as light oil or water can be placed therein to completely submerge the head, is mounted below the latter for vertical movement to normally gravitate to the position shown in full lines 1n Figure 1 in which the level of the liquid in the receptacle is belowthe head 15, and is adapted to be elevated to the position shown in broken lines in which theV head is submerged in the liquid. To'this end the bottom wall 48 of the receptacle is secured to a circular plate 49 having a depending hub 50 by means of rivets 51. The hub is threaded internally to receive the upper threaded end of a tubular extension 52 slid- -ably mounted in a second tubular standard ing ends b a platform 56 are lpivoted upon a shaft 5 vextending throug registering openings in the rear end of the levers and brackets 58 formed integral with the standard 43. The treadle is in turn pivotally connected at 59 by a link 60 to a lever 61 pivoted upon a pin 62 extending through registering openings in brackets 63 formed on the standard 43 and having one of its ends extendin through diametrically opposed slots 64 in the standard. The opposite end of the lever is bifurcated as shown at 65 to freely receive the standard 53 and the bifurcated ends are enlargedl and provided with slots 66 in which are freely received anti-friction rollers 67 rotatably mounted on a pin 68 extending through diametrically opposed slots` 69 formed in the standard 53 and through diametricallopposed openings 70 formed in the tubular extension 52. By this arrangement the receptacle T is adapted to be elevated bya depression of the platform 56 which act-s'through link 60, lever 61, and pin 68 to raise the extension 52 within its standard. To counterbalance the weight of the receptacle, a counterweight 71 is secured to the lever 61, and to provide means for draining the rece tacle of liquid a drain pipe 72 provided wit a valve 73 is secured to the bottom wall 15 ofthe receptacle in communication with its interior.

For the purpose of supplying air under pressure to the interior of a pipe fitting when clamped in the head 15 with its openings hermetically sealed, a supply pipe P connected to a suitable source of air under pressure (not shown) is provided with a vertical branch 74 passing between the arms 40 of the bracket 41 and secured to the head in communication with a duct 75 (Figure 1). One of the sealing elements E secured to the head and its gasket 11 yare each formed with communicating ducts 76 and 77, respectively, registering with the ductv 75 and thus providing acontinuous passage through which air under pressure is adapted to be supplied to the interior of a fitting from the pipe P. The horizontal branch 78 of the-pipe P is f provided iwith --anwairfadmission valve :79

" alternatelyiengage .the 'valvewstems of the.

and :anmir vent valve 80 (iFigiireiB), they valvesfbeing of conventionalztype and nor` mally urged'to 'closed position. The valves are -adapted ito i be :alternately opened in timed relation totheelevatingand gravitat- 4 ing movements of the receptacle T` by means kof airockerwarmfl pivoted at 82upon'an upstandingbracket 83 formed integral with the web '42 andtadapted to beaotuated to valves79sand 80.to open the valves, `by

means ofwa rod 84 pivoted to oneend of thev arm at 85 and extending downwardly `alongside offy the receptacle Tsoas to `pass freely through; an .opening formed in a` projection 86 on thei plate .49. Abntments `in the form of collars 87 #and 88 are .adjustably secured uponthe rod at either side of theprojection by;nieansof set screws 88 and 90, respee tivelyfand` coiled expansible springs 91 `and 92surroundxtheirod so as to beiiiterposed betweenithe projection and collars.

Inzoperationwith the` sealingelements E arnanged `anduloeked inthe head in receivingrelationfto theopenendsof .a Vfitting to be1tested,:and in the testing of Ts and` Ls, with themammingelement R positioned to engage onewallof the fitting, the latter is interposed Abetween the elements and the hand lever "25 `actuated 'Lto move ithe mov ably mounted elements inwardly towards the center ofthe lhead so .as to bring the.

open:end=s ofthe fitting into clampingv engagement .Withl the 1gaskets `1l `and thus hermetically seal its openings. The platform 56 is 'now depressed by the foot. oi the operatortoaelevate thereceptacle T from the position shown in full lines in Figure 1 to theposition shown in 1 broken linesaiid thus submerge =the sealed fitting into the `body of'liquid. Duringthis elevating movement, thelspring `91is engaged bythe projection 86011 theplate 491' and is moved upwardly into engagement with lthe collar 87, icon# tiniied elevating movementiofthe receptacle effecting movement of the collar to fraise the rodS/l, which 'latter,iin turn, actuates` the rockerarniI-Bl towopenthevalve 7 9 :and permit` ai r under pressure toL be` introduced into theinterior ofithe fitting. Any leakspresent inlthe Walls ofthe fitting permit the passage of `air intolthe body of liquid, ther` presence of the `leaks being indicated by the air bubbles escaping Ifrom the 1 liquid.

After a fitting has' been tested,ftlie treadle is released, allowing the receptacle to retuin to its original position so that the `litting is again emergedfrom thelioluid.` During this return movement of the receptacle, the projection 86 engages and compresses the spring 92, and through the spring and collar 8S moves the rod 84 downwardly, thus reversely actuating the rocker arm 81 to disengage the stem of the valve 7 9 and permit the `latter to closefand :cut off;the-sl`ipply of air toithefinterior of tliefitting. downward movement of l the rod :causes the rocker arm to be `moved .into1 engagement with the stem'of the valve 8O to lopen the` latter and permitlthe air trapped invthefit ting andbranch pipe 74 toescape through the open `valve to atmosphere.

`From the foregoing description, `it will be ,clear that `I have provided. a testing ma- Co'ntinued chinefof substantialconstruction `invvhich a fittingfutobetestedcan be quickly clamped with its open ends herinetically sealed, then immersed into a body oi' lliquid `and subjected to internalk pressure with a single operating movement and which is adjustable in such manner that fittings of many different shapes and sizes can be effectively tested,

the construction and arrangement being'` such as to reduce the manual operationsand the quantity of air used to a minimum.

I claim as my inventionz u 1. `A testing machine of thecharacterudescribed comprising a fitting supporting and sealing device including a stationaryhead supported `in elevated position `and having fixed and movable sealing elements between which a fittingto `betested is adapted to1 be interposed and clamped with lits openingsV liernietically sealed, a liquid containing receptacle mounted for movement to occupy one; extreme position in which `the fitting is emerged from the liquid `and a. second extremepositionlin which thefitting is submerged in the liquid, one ofsaid sealing elementslhaving a passage therethrough communicating with the interior of 4the litting when clamped in the head, a pipe connected to4 a source of fluid supp y under pressurea-nd connected to said head in com-r munication with said passage, afluid admissionvalve and a fluid vent valve in said pipe, said valves normallyH urged to closed4 position, andmeans operatively connected air supply means through which air under pressure is` adapted `to be introduced into the interior of the sealed fitting. air admission andi vent valves incorporated in suoli air supply means, said valves normally urged to closed position, and means for alternately opening said valves in timed relation to the movements of they receptacle so as to admit air to the interior of the fitting when the fitting is submerged in the liquid and to vent the interior of the fitting to atmosphere when emerged.

3. A testing machine as embodied in claim 2 wherein said last means comprises a rocker arm pivoted on a support and adapted to alternately engage the stems of said valves, a rod connected to said arm. abutmcnts on the rod, and a projection on "said receptacle adapted to engage one or Y sealing means, a liquid receptacle mounted for movement to occupy one position in which a fitting supported by said means is above the level of liquid in the receptacle` and another position in which it is lelevated to submerge the fitting, and means operating concurrently with the elevation of the receptacle to supply air under pressure to the interior of the fitting following its submergence, and operating concurrently with the lowering of the receptacle fo vent the interior of the fitting of the air supplied to the( latter.

5. A testing machine of the character described comprising means by which a pipe fitting is supported with its openings hermetically sealed, liquid supply means into which the first means is adapted to besubmerged with the fitting, the liquid supply means being movable to occupy one position in which the fitting is emerged from the liquid and another position in which the fit-V ting is submerged, and valved means operating concurrently with the movement of the liquid supply means to admit air under pressure to the interior of the fitting after the latter is submerged and to vent the interior V of the fitting to atmosphere during emergence of the fitting.

6. In a testing machine, a fitting supporting and sealing device including fixed sealing element-s and a movable sealing element arranged in receiving relation to the open ends of a fitting to be tested, means for moving the movable element to effect clamping engagement of the elements with the fitting, a ram mounted for movement, and means Vfor f, moving the ram to engage the fitting and thereby force the open ends of the latter into sealing engagement with the sealing elements. I

7. In a testing machine of the character prising sealing plugs and said movable seal-V mg elements comprising slottedv blocks slidably mounted in the Vhead and carrying other plugs, shafts rotatable in the head and hav-v ing cams thereon disposed in said slots, and

means for rotating said shaft to effect movement of the blocks in said headr to thereby clamp the fitting between the elements Vand hcrmetically seal its openin c.v A testing machine of t e character described colnprising a base, a standard fixed to the base and having a lateral extension, a fitting supporting and sealing device supported on said extension in elevated position, a second standardmf tubular form, an open topped receptacle adapted to contain a supply of liquid and having a depending extension slidable in said second standard, said receptacle normally gravitating to aposition in which a fitting sup orted in said device is' disposed above the evel of liquidV and adapted to be elevated to submerge the litting in the liquid, actuating means operatively connected to the receptacle for elevating the latter, means for introducing air under pressure to the interior of' the submerged fitting, and cushioning means interposed between said second standard and receptacle for absorbing therimpact oi the rcceptacle when gravitating to its norma-l position. v

9. A testing machine of the character described comprising a base, a standard fixed to the base and having a lateral extension, a fitting supporting and sealing device supported on said extension in elevated position, a second standard of tubular form, an open topped receptacle adapted to contain a supply of liquid and having a depending eX- tension slidable in said second standard, said receptacle normally gravitating to a. position in which a fitting supported in said device is disposed above the level of liquid and adapted to be elevated to submerge the fitting in the liquidand actuating means for elevating the receptacle comprising a lever pivoted on the first standard and having a piu and slot connection with said extension, a foot treadle pivoted on the first stan dard, a link connectin the lever and trcadle, and a Weight on the lever for counterbalancing the Weight on the receptacle. D

FERDINAND A. HAMILTON. 

